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Post by TsarSamuil on Jan 16, 2010 11:47:12 GMT -5
Indian Air Force plans to induct BrahMos missile in 2012.
Defense Professionals ^ | 01/07/2010 |
The country's prestigious 'BrahMos' missile would be inducted into the Indian Air Force in 2012 that would ensure all the three wings of the military are equipped with the supersonic cruise missile, a top defence official said today according to DD India.
"We have developed the airborne missile part, and process of integrating it with the Aircraft 'Sukhoi' was progressing', BrahMos Aerospace Ltd CMD A Shivathanu Pillai told the news agency at the BrahMos Aerospace's facility in Thiruvananthapuram.
Trial run of Airborne BrahMos missile would be held next year and the target was to integrate it with the Aircraft in 2012, he said.
As far as integration of the missile was concerned, the original designers of the aircraft were also involved, he said.
"We are working with them (Sukhoi). Some changes are necessary and once the alteration is identified, we will introduce the same in the aircraft," Pillai said.
With that, all the three wings of Indian military -Air Force, Navy and Army would have the supersonic missile 'BrahMos', he said.
Development of a new version of BrahMos missile, involving a technology that would discriminate the target and attack, in 2009 was a major achievement, he added.
Three flights on the new version had proved successful and the army would be inducting two more of this version shortly, Pillai said.
On the next generation cruise missile, he said hypersonic BrahMos missile was in design stage.
BrahMos Aerospace Thiruvananthapuram Ltd (BATL) was involved in developing eight sub-systems for the Defence and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
On expansion of BATL, Pillai said the plan was to establish an "assembly plan" within a year by acquiring 27 acres now occupied by Air Force close to BATL facility.
The state government had agreed to find alternative site for Air Force.
Once the full-fledged missile integration unit was established, the facility would be capable of producing 25 BrahMos missiles per year from Thiruvananthapuram, Pillai said.
However, he said that in the available facility an inspection bay would start from next month.
Referring to BATL's order book, he said ISRO had placed orders for products worth Rs 100 crore for its GSLV, PSLV and other missions.
Defence Research Development Organisation has also placed orders for many of their components and "we are expecting more items from DRDO," he said.
The company manufactures hardware, particularly for the 'Saruya' and 'Astra missiles, he said.
Former President APJ Abdul Kalam visited BATL on Tuesday and asked the management to diversify into civil areas as lot of opportunities were in store in critical sectors such as nuclear power and solar energy.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Jan 20, 2010 20:03:24 GMT -5
Poland says basing Patriot missiles nearer Russia not political. 00:3621/01/2010 Poland's decision to deploy a battery of U.S. Patriot missiles just 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Russian border is neither political nor strategic, the Polish defense minister said Wednesday. Bogdan Klich stressed that the base's proximity to Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad had nothing to do with the decision to station the missiles near the town of Morag rather than outside Warsaw. "It did not have any significance — neither political nor strategic. The only reason was the good infrastructure," Klich told journalists on Wednesday evening. Polish media reported earlier Wednesday that Defense Ministry experts came to the conclusion that Morag was the best place for the deployment of the Patriot missiles. "In Morag we could offer the best conditions for American soldiers and the best technical base for the equipment," Klich said on Polish Radio. Poland and the United States signed a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) last December laying out the conditions for the deployment of U.S. troops on Polish soil. According to the SOFA, U.S. troops will service Patriot missiles that are to be integrated into Poland's national security system. The Patriot unit will be manned by some 100 U.S. soldiers, and will comprise up to eight missile launchers. The first U.S. troop rotation is expected to arrive in Poland by the end of March. Russia has strongly opposed the previous U.S. administration's plans to place 10 long-range ground-based interceptor missiles in Poland and a fixed-site radar station in the Czech Republic. When agreeing to host the missile site, Warsaw demanded the Patriots' deployment to improve its defensive capabilities. Moscow's opposition to the missile defense system went as far as a threat to deploy Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles in the Kaliningrad exclave, but last September U.S. President Barack Obama shelved the proposed Central European missile shield and Russia said it would not place its missiles near the Polish border. However, Warsaw has insisted that the Patriot systems be placed in Poland under a bilateral security pact regardless of whether plans for a U.S. interceptor missile base in the country go ahead or not. Russia has not yet commented on the Polish decision to move the location of the Patriot site closer to its borders. Patriot (MIM-104) is a theater air-defense system designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and advanced aircraft. As well as the U.S., the Patriot is in service in Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan. Patriot missile systems were successfully deployed by U.S. forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. WARSAW, January 21 (RIA Novosti)  |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 2, 2010 13:48:02 GMT -5
Vid, rt.com/Politics/2010-02-02/sweden-poland-nuclear-weapons.htmlNuclear arsenal on the EU border will remain – Russia. Olga Masalkova, RT 02 February, 2010, 14:56 The head of the State Duma committee for international relations Konstantin Kosachev has called the request of Poland and Sweden to withdraw tactical nuclear weapons from Russia’s EU border illogical. Earlier, the foreign ministers of both countries Radoslav Sikorsky and Carl Bildt, published in the New York Times a call on Moscow to remove its nuclear weapons from the Kaliningrad region and the Kola Peninsula. However, Moscow thinks that such an initiative has the right to exist, but doesn’t have grounds for realization until security in Europe will be collective, integrated and indivisible. In an interview to Interfax news agency, Konstantin Kosachev also reminded that Moscow’s initiative to create an international agreement on European security has been ignored by both Poland and Sweden. The head of the Russian State Duma Committee for international relations has also stressed that, for the European Union, NATO remains the main force to ensure security in the region: “Until all the forces of ensuring European Security will be united, only nuclear weapons will be able to sustain the global strategic security balance of the continent. And in this regard, the decision on the quantity and the geographical location of the nuclear arms will remain between the two nuclear powers Russia and the US – whether the third parties like that or not.” Many analysts think, however, that the timing of the Polish-Swedish initiative is not accidental, as it coincides with the new round of US-Russia talks in Geneva concerning a successor to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. However, Vladimir Yevseyev from the Center of International Security in Moscow thinks that neither Sweden nor Poland expected an immediate action on their initiative: “Tactical nuclear arms withdrawal from European territories is not the most topical issue at the moment. As for Sweden, even though it’s not a NATO member, it’s really difficult to imagine that it will ever be attacked by either Russia or the US. Sweden came up with this initiative as it is more worried about the environmental damage that such arms may cause. As for Poland, it just used this moment to distract attention from the expansion of its own arms.” Earlier, Moscow expressed concerns about Poland’s plans to deploy American antiaircraft Patriot missiles close to its border with Russia, just 100 kilometers from the Kaliningrad region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has asked Warsaw for an explanation, as such an act is seen by the Kremlin as Poland increasing its military arsenal against Russia. Viktor Litovkin, Editor-in-Chief of the “Independent Military Review” thinks, Poland used this initiative as another opportunity to cast another stone towards Russia: “This is very typical of Poland. You know this Russophobia is their historical illness, and there is really no cure for that.” In their letter, the ministers of Poland and Sweden have, however, not only pointed their finger at Russia, but also called on the US to withdraw their arsenal of tactical nuclear weapons from the European territory. Citing a recent report by the International Commission on Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, the ministers mentioned that 200 out of 500 US active warheads are stored in Western Europe, whereas the vast majority of Russia’s 2,000 warheads are stored in the western part of the country. However, the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine “Russia in Global Politics” Fyodor Lukyanov thinks that such initiative has been coordinated with the US. In an interview to Russian radio station Echo Moskvy, he said that the current US-Russia talks are only about strategic nuclear weapons, which are not stored in Europe by Russia. The US however has long wanted to include tactical warheads in the dialogue and this was an indirect way of pointing at this issue. He says that – since Barack Obama is organizing a so-called nuclear summit in April this year, and then in May there will be a conference on nuclear non proliferation – Obama wants (and needs) to come up with some important initiatives in this sphere. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 3, 2010 14:23:15 GMT -5
India to buy more BrahMos missiles.
India has plans to introduce into its armed forces the new BrahMos missile, the head of the BrahMos Aerospace company, Sivathanu Pillai, told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.
Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace, a joint Indian-Russian venture, produces and markets BrahMos supersonic missiles. The sea-based and land-based versions have been successfully tested and put into service with the Indian Army and Navy.
Earlier on Tuesday, Russia's security chief, Nikolai Patrushev, visited the BrahMos headquarters in New Delhi. BrahMos is an acronym for the cities of Brahmaputra and Moscow.
The missile, known as BrahMos Block-2, can have a top speed of over Mach 5, which could make it virtually impossible to intercept, and can effectively engage even slightly visible ground targets. It has been designed primarily to meet the needs of the army.
"The army officials said they were pleased with last year's ground trials of the missile, and approved of putting it into service," Pillai said.
The company has also been developing another version of the missile for Air Force, the BrahMos-A missile, with a reduced mass and increased aerodynamic stability. The Indian Air Force chose the Russian-made SU-30 MKI Flanker-H multirole fighter as the trial platform for the missile.
"[This] version of the missile is now ready. Air trials will commence in 2011, and by 2012, we are planning to fit the missiles onto aircraft," Pillai said.
The required modifications of the SU-30 MKI for integration with the BrahMos-A missile system are being carried out by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia's Sukhoi Design Bureau.
Analysts estimate that India could purchase up to 1,000 BrahMos missiles for its armed forces in the next decade, and export some 500 to other countries during the same period.
NEW DELHI, February 2 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by srbin on Feb 3, 2010 14:29:18 GMT -5
whats the problem now you little bitch? why did u return those disguisinting photos? I have the same avatar as you do? why is more offensive then yours you fucking cocksucking maggot?
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 8, 2010 12:20:00 GMT -5
Let us know when the Marsians are coming to invade us, will u Sokol? ;D
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BrahMos installation test flight in Baltic Sea.
The Hindu ^ | 02/06/2010 | T. S. Subramanian
An installation test flight of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile is scheduled to take place this year in the Baltic Sea from a stealth frigate being built for the Indian Navy at Kaliningrad in Russia, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, BrahMos Aerospace Limited, said on Tuesday.
The missile’s vertical launcher and fire control system, made in India, was transported to Kaliningrad and fitted into the stealth frigate, a Talwar-class ship.
Dr. Pillai disclosed this when Russian National Security Advisor Nikolai Patroshev, along with Ambassador Alexander Kadakin, visited the BrahMos Complex in New Delhi.
The BrahMos missile is a joint product of India and Russia and it has already been inducted into the Indian Navy and Army.
Patroshev is all praise
Mr. Patroshev, who is leading a high-level delegation, lauded the development of the BrahMos as a remarkable achievement made in a short time. “The joint venture BrahMos is a bright illustration of the successful work of the Russian and Indian scientists and designers. It is based on the highest trust…”
Mr. Kadakin said the best brains of the two countries coming together made the system highly advanced and reliable.
Dr. Pillai gave an account of the progress made by the joint venture in the last 10 years and the possible areas for future collaboration. The Russian delegation’s visit would further encourage the joint venture, he said.
Three Talwar-class ships to be built for the Indian Navy by Russia would have BrahMos missiles.
There are four versions of BrahMos now: sea-to-sea; sea-to-land; land-to-sea; and land-to-land. Work on launching the cruise missile from submarines and aircraft was in progress, Dr. Pillai said.
Impossible to intercept
K.V. Prasad reports from New Delhi:
Established in 1998, BrahMos Aerospace, produces and markets the BrahMos supersonic missiles. Known as BrahMos Block-2, the missile has a top speed of over Mach 5, making it virtually impossible to intercept, and it can effectively engage even slightly visible ground targets. It has been designed primarily to meet the needs of the Army.
“Army officials said they were pleased with last year’s ground trials of the missile, and approved putting it into service,” Russian news agency Ria-Novosti said, quoting Dr. Pillai.
The company has also been working on another version of the missile, BrahMos-A for the Air Force. The IAF selected the multirole fighter Sukhoi-MKI as the platform for trials scheduled for next year and targets fitment in 2012.
Modifications to Su-30 MKI for integration with the BrahMos-A missile system are being carried out by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and Russia’s Sukhoi Design Bureau.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 12, 2010 21:56:52 GMT -5
Vid, rt.com/Top_News/2010-02-12/amd-us-bulgaria.htmlBulgaria might host US anti-missile system. RussiaToday.com 12 February, 2010, 19:38 Bulgaria might deploy elements of the US anti-missile defense system on its territory. The country’s prime minister said on Friday that Sophia and Washington would hold talks on the matter. According to Reuters, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boiko Borisov supports the idea of placing AMD elements in his country but stresses that the decision could only be made if the EU gives the green light to it. “This is not a decision that will be taken only by me,” Borisov told reporters on Friday. “We are waiting replies from the European Commission and from the Bulgarian parliament.” He added it is necessary to show solidarity. “When you are a member of NATO, you have to work for the collective security.” Borissov's statement comes after newly appointed US ambassador to Bulgaria James Warlick said that Bulgaria could play a role in the future missile defense shield plans. Warlick noted that no specific talks have been held so far and the two countries are only exchanging opinions for the moment. Russia has always been opposed to the US AMD system in Europe. Although in September 2009 US President Barack Obama announced changes to the AMD plans, America has not given up the program. Earlier this month, Romania announced it is ready to host anti-ballistic interceptors as part of an American missile shield in Eastern Europe. While in January, Warsaw said it would base US Patriot missiles near the border with the Russian city of Kaliningrad. Mikhail Troitsky from the Moscow-based Macarthur Foundation says opposing views on the American defense system in Europe will not prevent Russia and the US from cooperating on more serious issues: “I believe, currently, both Moscow and Washington are going to focus on finalizing the START agreement. It’s also clear that the missile defense system is a fairly long-term prospect. So both sides will now focus on the immediate goals,” Troitsky told RT. |
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 12, 2010 22:01:46 GMT -5
Bulgaria in Informal Talks for Joining US Missile Defense.
Novinite.com
Defense | February 12, 2010, Friday
The United States and Bulgaria are currently in the stage of unofficial talks over the possibility of the latter joining the US missile defense in Europe.
This has been stated by US Ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick, during his lecture at the Atlantic Club in Sofia, as cited by BTA.
His Excellency made it clear that the question of Bulgaria joining the US missile defense in Europe was still at a very early stage, and that the US would like to only hold consultations with the Bulgarian government at the moment. No formal request has been made to Bulgaria on part of the US government in that respect.
Warlick said America would not want to make Bulgaria choose between Washington and Moscow, and that both the USA and Bulgaria would like to see a prosperous Russia with which they would want to have good relations.
The US Ambassador has praised Bulgaria for its participation in the international operation in Afghanistan.
“The decision of where to locate elements of the US missile defense in Europe is half mathematical, half political. I think that in the spirit of the established military cooperation between the USA and Bulgaria, it would be rather natural for Bulgaria to invite the US to locate elements of missile shield on Bulgarian territory,” said Solomon Passy, President of the Atlantic Club in Bulgaria and former Foreign Minister (2001-2005).
Bulgaria’s Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, has commented that the decision of Bulgaria to join the US missile defense was not up to him, and that the Bulgarian government will expect the positions of the European Commission and the Bulgarian Parliament on that issue.
“We are going to await answers from two places – the European Commission – because we are an EU member state, and from the Bulgarian Parliament. My opinion is that we should show solidarity with our partners. I believe that when you are a member of NATO you should work for the collective security,” declared the Bulgarian Prime Minister.
Last week Romania announced that it was going to accept on its territory elements from the US missile defense in Europe.
According to the US, its planned missile shield in Europe is designed to protect its European allies from missile attacks by countries such as Iran. However, it has antagonized Russia which sees it as directed against it.
The Obama Administration has revisited the plans of the Bush Administration to locate elements of the missile shield in Poland and Czech Republic, and has announced that it was going to naval based systems at first, and would look for possible locations for land based systems in Eastern and Southern Europe.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 14, 2010 8:34:41 GMT -5
Moscow wants explanation on U.S.-Bulgaria missile shield talks.
Moscow waits for detailed explanations concerning U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile shield in Bulgaria, the Russian foreign minister said.
"I repeat that we are waiting for detailed explanations, which have been promised to us," Sergei Lavrov said upon his arrival to Nicaragua for a one-day official visit.
James Warlick, the U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, said earlier in the week that the United States was holding informal talks with the Balkan country on hosting elements of a U.S. missile shield on its soil.
"We have already asked our partners in Washington... what does this all mean and why after the Romanian 'surprise' there is a Bulgarian 'surprise' now," Lavrov said.
Last week Romania announced that it would host interceptor missiles as part of a U.S. missile defense system on its soil.
A U.S. State Department official said earlier the facilities in Romania are to become operational by 2015 and are designed as protection against "current and emerging ballistic missile threats from Iran."
The planned deployment in Romania comes after U.S. President Barack Obama scrapped plans for a radar and interceptor missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland, which Russia fiercely opposed as a national security threat and a blow on its nuclear deterrent. Moscow threatened retaliatory measures.
MANAGUA, February 14 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 14, 2010 8:38:30 GMT -5
Russia pulls S-400 air and missile defense system off the market.
GeoStrategy Direct ^ | GeoStrategy Direct
Russia has decided to withdraw its advanced missile defense system for export. Officials said the Kremlin has ordered the state-owned arms agency Rosoboronexport to end marketing of the S-400 air and missile defense system. They said Rosoboronexport was told that the S-400 would be deployed only in Russia until further notice.
"Russia would consider exports only after meeting the requirements of its own armed forces," Rosoboronexport director Anatoly Isaikin said on Jan. 28. Over the last five years, Rosoboronexport has sought to sell the S-400 to a range of Middle East states, including Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. So far, no export sales were reported.
"There are a lot of preliminary talks," Isaikin said.
The S-400 Triumph was designed to intercept airborne targets at up to 400 kilometers. Rosoboronexport has asserted that the system could destroy stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
In 2009, Rosoboronexport lobbied the Turkish government to purchase the S-400. Ankara, which appears to favor the U.S.-origin PAC-3, has conducted a $1 billion tender for the procurement of missile defense systems.
Officials said the Russian military would require at least two years to exploit the potential of the S-400. The first S-400 battalion entered combat duty in the Moscow region in 2007.
"There have been bugs in the system and this has prevented us from properly demonstrating the S-400 abroad," another official said.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 15, 2010 5:46:36 GMT -5
My position (before anyone accuses me of anything) is that Bulgaria should have missiles, patriot, but preferably S-400.
I don't want missiles if they are going to be manned by Americans, then they could be used as a tool by American foreign policy (vs Russia). Also, that would make Bulgaria a target should usa attack Iran.
Reasons for,
Bulgaria had many big missiles before NATO, it was forced to scrap most of them to join. This weakening of Bulgaria has annoyed me ever since, why should Bulgaria weaken itself when other members walk around with freaking nukes? A shitty organization NATO is!!
2nd, our neighbors have the missiles, for regional security I want Bulgaria to have missiles, I don't trust our neighbors at all (especially not Turkey!).
Hmmm...BG said they are going to see what the EU says about this whole project with patriot missiles all over eastern europe. Russia wants to cooperate with the EU for a new security arrengement. So I think, Bulgaria should wait for the time being.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 15, 2010 20:45:17 GMT -5
Despite Netanyahu pressure, Russia defends Iran missile deal.
Haaretz ^ | February 15, 2010 | Barak Ravid
On the eve of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Moscow, senior Russian security officials were speaking out on defense-related issues that have provoked tensions between the two countries.
An hour before Netanyahu's plane took off on Sunday, Russian officials said that Moscow sees no reason to delay the sale of the S-300, a powerful air-defense system, to Iran. In addition, on Friday, Russian intelligence officials leaked comments expressing their displeasure with plans by an Israeli firm to close a major arms deal with Georgia.
"There is a signed contract [for the S-300 missiles] which we must follow through on, but deliveries have not started yet," Vladimir Nazarov, deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council secretary, told Interfax news agency in an interview. "This deal is not restricted by any international sanctions, because we are talking about deliveries of an exclusively defensive weapon."
Nazarov added that a military strike on Iran would be a big mistake and that the problems linked to Tehran's nuclear program must be resolved by diplomatic means only.
"Any military action against Iran will make the situation explode and will have extremely negative consequences for the entire world, including for Russia, which is a neighbor of Iran," he noted.
Israel has expressed concern in the past over Russian plans to sell Iran the S-300 system, which will be used to defend its nuclear installations against a possible attack. During the past two years, both Israel and the United States have pressured Russia not to implement the agreement with Iran, and there may be other opposition, according to sources in the premier's entourage.
Netanyahu is expected to raise the subject of the arms sales to Iran in meetings with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putting. In recent months Russia had promised not to go through with the deal. However, the economic crisis and pressure from the military establishment have resulted in major disagreements within the country's leadership on the issue.
Medvedev recently told President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman that Russia needs the revenue from the deal and suggested that a different buyer be found.
Netanyahu plans to tell his Russian hosts that Moscow must take an active role in halting Iran's nuclear program.
"We will discuss a broad spectrum of issues, first and foremost the Iranian issue," he said. "Israel believes that Iran must come under serious pressure, first very strict sanctions, which Secretary of State [Clinton] described as paralyzing."
Russia's declarations about the S-300 system were also meant to send a message to Israel that it does not approve the resumption of its arms sales to Georgia, which were frozen in August 2008.
According to the Russian government news agency, Itar-Tass, Israel resumed the sale of arms to Georgia and "is no longer limiting itself to the sale of UAVs [drones]," which are perceived to be defensive weapons.
A Russian intelligence source was quoted as saying that a private Israeli firm is providing weapons to the Georgian armed forces .
Specifically, according to the Russian news agency Ropadia, a company registered in Cyprus signed a contract for the delivery of 50,000 Kalashnikov assault rifles, 1,000 RPG launchers, and 20,000 40mm shells for the rocket launchers, in addition to 15,000 assault rifles of different types. The report stated that the arms deal was also carried out through Arsenal, a Bulgarian firm.
Foreign Ministry sources did not confirm the reports, but said that the timing of the leak to Itar-Tass is not coincidental and it appears that certain figures in Russia wish to link the arms sales to Georgia with Israel's demand for a freeze on the S-300 deal to Iran.
Sources at the ministry confirmed that security ties with Georgia were recently resumed, but they involve provision of basic training for the Georgian army by Israeli firms.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 16, 2010 15:02:41 GMT -5
At last some good news.
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Moldova region in missile offer.
By Nick Thorpe
Central Europe correspondent, BBC News
Moldova's breakaway region of Trans-Dniester has reacted to US plans for a missile defence shield by offering to host new Russian missiles.
The US wants to base elements of its missile defence shield in neighbouring Romania and Bulgaria - much to Russia's concern.
Trans-Dniester leader Igor Smirnov said Russia had not yet asked it to be a host but any request would be approved.
Trans-Dniester is already home to Russian troops and an arms dump.
The Trans-Dniester region declared independence from Moldova in 1991.
Sharp criticism
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has already asked for an explanation from the US about its missile defence plans.
Over the past days details have emerged of the US offer to Romania and Bulgaria: sea-based interceptor missiles on US ships in the Black Sea from as early as next year, and land-based missiles from 2015.
The plans have drawn sharp criticism from Moscow, where officials described an earlier project to base radar and missiles in the Czech Republic and Poland as a threat to Russia.
In a separate development, the Moldovan prime minister and Romanian interior minister symbolically removed the barbed wire fence which has stood since Soviet times, and reopened a border crossing across the river Prut between the two countries.
The new Moldovan government, elected last summer, has sought closer ties with Romania and the European Union and has given up the pro-Moscow orientation of its predecessor.
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 17, 2010 7:10:06 GMT -5
Several states look to Russian missiles for national defense systems.
Several countries are considering creating their national anti-aircraft defense systems using solely Russian weapons, a spokesman for Russia's leading interceptor missile producer said on Tuesday.
Speaking at an arms show in New Delhi, Almaz-Antei spokesman Yury Baikov said countries have shown interest in Russia's S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler), S-300 Favorit, and Tor and Buk missiles that could make up three sets of long-, short- and medium-range missiles needed for a national anti-aircraft system.
Baikov did not elaborate on the countries concerned.
The S-400 is believed to be able to destroy stealth aircraft, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, and is effective at ranges up to 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) and speeds up to 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) per second.
"[Anti-aircraft] complexes produced by different countries are generally impossible to combine in a single defense system, and governments tend to buy weapons from one country," Baikov said.
He said creating a national anti-aircraft defense system is a costly undertaking, and many countries prefer buying Russian complexes gradually.
NEW DELHI, February 16 (RIA Novosti)
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Post by TsarSamuil on Feb 18, 2010 6:29:38 GMT -5
India ready to export cruise missiles: official.
Agence France Presse (AFP) ^ | 02/17/2010
NEW DELHI — India, which has built a supersonic cruise missile jointly with Russia, is holding talks with at least four countries to sell the weapons system, a senior Indian official said on Tuesday.
BrahMos Aerospace, a 50:50 tie-up with Russia, needs the approval of both governments to export the weapon which its makers claim is the world's fastest cruise missile, each costing up to three million dollars.
"We are in the process of getting the necessary permission (for sales)," A. Sivathanu Pillai, chief executive officer of BrahMos Aerospace said on the sidelines of an arms expo in New Delhi.
A senior company executive, who asked not to be named, told AFP "serious negotiations" were under way with South Africa, Brazil and Chile for a maritime version of the missile while Indonesia has been offered a land-based BrahMos.
The joint venture stipulates the missile cannot be sold to "unfriendly countries," the 10-billion-dollar joint venture's marketing chief Praveen Pathak added.
The missile can fly at a speed of one kilometre (0.62 mile) a second.
"We have no competition for the next 10 to 15 years from American or the French makers of cruise missiles as the BrahMos is the fastest and most cost-effective system ever to be built," Pillai said.
The BrahMos carries a 200-kilogram (440-pound) conventional warhead, has a range of 280 kilometres (175 miles). Indian and Russian experts started development work on the missile in 2001.
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